JERUSALEM/CAIRO — April 16 – As international efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza continue to hit roadblocks, Israel’s Defense Minister has firmly stated that Israeli forces will maintain their presence in newly established buffer zones across Gaza, regardless of any future peace arrangement.
In a declaration made following a strategic review with senior military officials, Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized that the Israel Defense Forces will not retreat from areas they have cleared and secured since the latest phase of military operations began in March. These areas now constitute a substantial portion of Gaza’s territory, further compressing the civilian population into overcrowded and undersupplied sections of the enclave.
Katz clarified that these security zones are not temporary war positions but are intended to become a lasting part of Israel’s strategic defense posture. “The IDF will remain in these buffer zones as a permanent security shield between Israeli citizens and hostile forces, regardless of whether the situation is temporary or long-term,” Katz said. He compared the strategy to similar security arrangements along Israel’s borders with Lebanon and Syria.
Expanding Control Across Gaza
The establishment of these zones has seen Israeli troops take control of key regions, particularly in southern Gaza. It is estimated that Israeli forces currently control approximately one-fifth of Gaza’s territory, including the vital border city of Rafah. A heavily militarized corridor—known as the Morag corridor—has also been carved out, cutting across the enclave from Rafah to Khan Younis and all the way to the Mediterranean Sea.
Central Gaza has not been spared either. Israeli forces now control a wide zone across the Netzarim area, while in the north, territories such as Shejaia, near Gaza City, have seen significant Israeli military presence extend several hundred meters into what was once densely populated Palestinian areas.
Mounting Civilian Toll and Displacement
The toll of these operations on the civilian population has been devastating. Since hostilities resumed in mid-March following a brief lull, more than 400,000 Palestinians have been forced to flee their homes, according to humanitarian agencies monitoring the situation. Whole communities have been reduced to rubble, forcing countless families to flee repeatedly in a desperate search for shelter and security.
Airstrikes and artillery shelling have reportedly claimed the lives of over 1,600 people in recent weeks, adding to the already staggering death toll since the conflict’s escalation in October last year. Health authorities in Gaza now estimate that over 51,000 Palestinians have died as a result of the ongoing military campaign, with vast swaths of the coastal enclave reduced to rubble.
Medical organizations operating in Gaza describe the situation as catastrophic. One prominent humanitarian group referred to the region as a “mass grave,” pointing to both the scale of death and the near-total collapse of the healthcare infrastructure. “We are watching the systematic destruction and displacement of an entire population unfold in real time,” said a coordinator working on emergency medical relief efforts in the area.
Aid Blockade and Humanitarian Collapse
The humanitarian crisis is being exacerbated by a continued blockade on aid supplies. Fuel, food, and medical resources have been largely prevented from entering Gaza since early March. The health ministry in Gaza warned this week that the few remaining operational hospitals are on the verge of shutdown due to depleted medical stockpiles and lack of fuel for generators.
Hundreds of patients reportedly lack access to life-saving medication, and with border crossings sealed, there’s no clear path for bringing in emergency relief. While Israel has suggested that aid could be delivered later via private companies, officials have confirmed that the blockade remains in force for now.
Political Deadlock and No Clear Path to Peace
Despite repeated mediation efforts by Egypt and other regional actors, the political impasse remains entrenched. Israeli leaders continue to demand the full disarmament of Hamas as a prerequisite for any ceasefire, a condition that Hamas has adamantly rejected. The group has reiterated that it will not agree to any truce that does not guarantee a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the lifting of the blockade, and a commitment to reconstruction.
In a recent statement, Hamas described such demands as red lines that cannot be crossed. “Any agreement that does not ensure a real halt to aggression, complete withdrawal of troops, and the beginning of rebuilding efforts is merely a political trap,” the statement read.
Despite some media speculation about potential agreements involving hostage exchanges, two senior Israeli officials confirmed that negotiations remain stalled, with no tangible progress. Israel has repeatedly said that military pressure will force Hamas to negotiate and release the remaining hostages, but growing public pressure within Israel itself is demanding a change in strategy.
Large-scale protests have erupted across the country, with citizens urging the government to secure the release of the 59 hostages still held in Gaza and bring an end to the prolonged conflict.
Cultural and Human Losses Continue
The violence continues to claim not just lives but also a part of Gaza’s cultural identity. On Wednesday, a prominent Palestinian writer and photographer, Fatema Hassouna, was killed along with nine others in an airstrike targeting a residential building. Elsewhere, another strike killed three individuals in northern Gaza, according to local medical reports.
As the war drags on with no end in sight, the humanitarian, cultural, and political toll on both sides continues to rise. With no concrete peace agreement and both parties firmly entrenched in their positions, the road to resolution appears longer and more uncertain than ever.